Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-10-27


For, For the S t, two Sc Sc siqns So; ISS q
Excess cost "f FJTdScr's Legis-
latiire over Hoadly's ..........s29,Sdo ID
Thus, the two sessions of the Foraker
Legislature cost within a few dollars
OF THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
more than the two 'ssions OF the last
Democratic Legislature cost. No Non-
der that our immaculate Governor was
silent upon the extravaganza OF has
legislature. Did not this same legisla-
ture increase his salary from $4,000 to
5000? Why should he expose its un-
considerable wastefulness?
THE SOLDIER RACKET.
Connected with this spendthrift Gen.
eral Assembly is another little matter
which Governor Foraker has studiously
kept out OF sight. III there is any man
in the State OF Ohio, OF ordinary COM
mon sense and common honesty, no
matter what his party affiliations may
be, who has not been disgusted with
the manner in which Joseph Benson
Foraker has exploited ''the soldier
racket" for his private and selfish ends,
he must be curiously constituted. In
this direction there is no absurdity at
which he has hesitated, no trick that he
has despised, no meanness that he has
not stopped 10, no low passion to which
he las scorned to appeal. His inordi-
nate vanity and inceSsant selhaudation,
as a war-Governor in time OF profound
peace, are only equaled by tie fragrant
and unexampled recklessness of con-
sequences with which he seeks to
arouse forgotten antipathies TO tear
open old wounds, and bring back the
old bitterness Of sectional strife. But
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr..
Foraker never lets an opportunity 60 by
to protest his friendship for the soldiers
there art some things that he and his
legislature have done in order to curry
favor, and to provide for a lot of personal
hangers-on which he is very, very care
full not to parade before the voters
whom he addresses.
1.-THE ROSTER STEAL"
Amid the reckless extravaganza and
unparalleled squandering OF the public
moneys during the present Republican
State Administration, nothing has yet
been told the taxpayers concerning the
cul ,'able mlsman cement and criminal
W. tpfulncsS going on in connection
wl,h the Roster department, so.called.
! h, time has come lor ventilating this
steal.
The last Democratic Legislature, on
| the 18th of March, 1884, adopted Joint
rcso ution, providing for the publica-
| ton, in look form, OF the complete ros-
ter of Ohio soldiers in the last two
wars. On the l4th OF April, 1884, the
sum of five thousand dollars was ap-
prorriated, for the purpose OF begin
mn. the work oi carrying into effect
raj resolution; and during the session
OF i>S,, the further sum of nine thou
SAN | i've hundred dollars was appro-
pirate for the purpose OF continuing
the work.
From the time the work was begun,
in 1874, till the inauguration of Cover
nor Foraker in January, 1886, Except
from December Is, 1854, to March IL,
1885, during which time it was suspend
ed, because the first appropriation had
been substantially eXhausted,) some
ten clerks, were kept busy, preparing
roster copy for the printer-the time of
this service being about sixteen months.
Far more than half of the entire work
was well and accurately completed,
when all of said clerks were swept out
of office by the Foraker administration,
and Republicans appointed in their
places.
But no taxpayer would for a moment
imagine it possible that men in tkeir
senses could do what was actually done
under the authority and express direc.
ton of an official trio of whom Governor
Foraker is the chief Joseph B. Foraker
is president of the Roster Commission
And now what did this Republican
commission do?
When they found that the work was
so nearly completed that the Republic
can appointees would have but shor
job, the Republican managers decided
to make a bonfire of the "copy' pre-
pared during the preceding administra
ton, which had cost the State abou
$4,000, and to begin the work anew, SC
as to prolong their tenure of Office, thu:
throwing away the work of an average
of ten clerks during sixteen months O
faithful and pains-taking service, tt
promote party ends and objects. This
proceeding is unparalleled in the history
of parties in this State, and is unblush
ingly paraded in the report of Adjutant
General Axline for 1885,
Having thus provided for an extend
ed term of service for a large number O
Republican strikers and hangers-on, tn,
next step was raid upon the late reck
less and corrupt Republican Legislature
for appropriations. This raid was sue
cessful, Notwithstanding all the othe
exorbitant and extravagant drafts ol
the Treasury by the Republican admin
istration; and during the two sessions
since Foraker has been in office, tn
enormous and extraordinary sum c
$74, ,4SO.70 has been appropriated fo
this Roster business. No wonder tha
Governor Foraker, who is 50 profuse il
| statistics, makes no allusion to this emo
nous fraud and steal in any of hi
speeches. No wonder that Mr.. Powe
in his Hamilton speech should hav
said:
Another reason the people of Obi
can not afford to endorse the preser
State administration is because it ha
been the most extravagant we hay
ever had in Ohio"
No wonder that the Hon. Seth Brow
Of Warren County, Chairman of tn
House Committee on Finance, made th
following declaration upon the floor {
the House of Representatives
Il have word to say, and | say it j
the way of warning to the Republica
members on this floor. At the presel
rate it will be said, and said truthful
of this LeJislnturp that IT, 1yns mot mn